Improvement in harvesting-machines



Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'R.DUTTON,

HARVESTER.

Patented Feb. 12, 1861;

lflilllilllllllllillllll I l M fmm Witnesses:

N. PHERS, Pholo-Lithograyhny, Washmginn. u. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. DUTTON.

HARVESTER.

Patented Feb. 12, 1861.

liwenior:

u. PETERS Pnnmmn m her, Washington. a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS DUTTON, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 3 [,378, dated February 12, 1861.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that 1, Burns DUTTON, of Day ton, in the county of Montgomery, State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Harvesters; and the following is a clear and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, Plate No. 1, represents a front view of the machine put together as a reaper. Fig. 2, Plate 1, shows an end view of the same. Fig. 3, Plate 2, represents a front view of the machine put up as a mower. Fig. 4, Plate 2, shows an end view of the same. Fig. 5, Plate 2, shows a section through the wheels and shaft. Fig. 6, Plate 2, represents an end view of the center of the spur-gear wheel. Fig. 7 Plate 2, shows an end view of the hollow axle or sleeve.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvements, I will proceed to describe them in detail, referring to the drawings and the letters marked thereon.

The frame has two sills connected by two cross-sills. Into the outside one is framed a plank, A, of sufficient width to receive the gearing-boxes and segment for raising andlowering the cut. The plank A is bolted to the sill and held firmly by the curved brace a,

mortised into the inner sill, over which brace and in a groove passes an iron rod, a, with a thread cut on either end, on which are fitted nuts, by tightening which the frame and brace are held rigidly together. The plank A is inclined outward about one-half an inch to the foot, for the purpose of giving an outward in-. clination or dish to the wheel.

Over the driving-wheel B is a thin piece of bent wood, I), called the shieldboard. 011 top of the shield-board b, and over the end of the upright piece A, is placed the seat for the The inner one-is secured to the curved brace a by an iron rod, 0. The posts E E have a series of holes for the purpose of adjusting the reel to different heights.

On each end of the arm F are two journals, 6 6, through which the reel-shaft G passes. This arm is held to the inner reel-post by a bolt at any desired height. 011 the outer post are corresponding holes for the journal 6 at the end of the reel-shaft. The arm Fwill adjust itself on the bolt, so as to bring the three bearings in line. It is very desirable and almost indispensable in an overhanging reel to have the inner bearing as far in on the shaft as possible, and have the bearings a considerable distance apart, which is accomplished by this device, as well as a cheap and convenient method for raising and lowering the reel.

The reel-arms g g g g aremade of thin pieces of wood,wide enough in the center to admit of holes suflieiently large to slip over the shaft G. The arms 9 g g g are held in their places by metal flanges h h andj j. Thetwo flanges h [L are held to the shaft G by a screw. Between the arms 9 g are thin metal plates with flanges on both sides, but at right angles to each other. The flange j,which is next to the bearing 0, is recessed on its edges, into which and through the shaft G is passed the pin 2, which clamps the flanges together and holds them firmly in their places. The flange j at the end of the shaft is held by a nut and screw. By this device the reel-arms are not only held firmly in their proper place for working the machine, but by simply removing the pin t and loosening the screw in the end of the shaft the blades and the arms may be brought together, putting the reel in convenient form for transportation, and enabling it to be stored away conveniently when not in use. It also facilitates the work of putting up the machine in the harvest-field.

I construct the grain end of the machine by a thin board, K, the bent shoe 7c, the curved or shield piece L, metallic piece I, and inner board, m. The board K is screwed or nailed to the curved piece L, and also on the lower side to the shoe k. Each end of the curved shield-piece L is bolted to the shoe k. The metallic slotted standard Z, which supports the wheel M, is bolted to the shoe 7tand curved shield-piece L. The board on answers for a shield to prevent the grain from coming against and the rakers stand N passes a bolt.

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the wheel M. The grain end of the machine is raised and lowered by the rack and pinion on the plate I, which is a modified form of my patent above referred to, bearing date April 27, 1858. On the end of the shoe is is a metallic point, k.

The rakers stand N is fastened at the bottom to a metallic piece, a. The standard N is held in the piece by a bolt forming a pivot or hinge. Above the point is a curved slot, 0, the pivot being its center, through which The raker s stand may be inclined forward, as shown in red lines, and held firmly in any desired position by tightening the nut.

To remove the grain from the platform of a reaping-machine is considered the most laborious part of harvesting, and this labor depends much upon the position of the raker. \Vhen the grain is tallas wheat or ryethe stand will be upright, placing the raker farther back; but in short grainas oats or barleythe stand will be inclined forward, bringing the raker up to his work.

P is the gaveling-board, fastened to the platform at an angle of about twenty degrees from the line of cut. The front end, 1), is curved or bent outward toward the tongue for the purpose of compressing the grain inward. The upper edge of the board is cut down, as rep resented by p, for the purpose of allowing the reel to be brought down in cutting short grain.

p is an iron rod fastened to the upper front corner of the board P, inclining upward and backward. Vhen the grain leans outward, this rod supports it and keeps it from falling over the gaveling-board. In short grain the reel-blades work above the board P and, within the rod 1) as the reel revolves. Each blade will lay hold of and bring upon the platform any grain resting upon the board and rod.

R is the metallic coupling-arm, grooved into the front ends of the sills of the frame and fastened with bolts. a

o is a bracket or cross-piece on the platform, placed so as to come directly under the inner sill when the platform 0 is attached to the frame. This brings the cutter-bar and platform in line with each other, and when in this position the top of the driving-wheel B, as before mentioned, is inclined outward.

Now, when the machine is changed to a mower, as represented in Plate No. 2, the inner side of the frame is dropped down until the wheel B is made perpendicular. This will allow, when the joint 1 is made flexible, as will be hereinafter explained, the end of the bar S to drop and adapt itself to descending ground. By the arrangement of the couplingarm and sill an unobstructed space is secured between the joint 1* and wheel B to pass over the mown grass.

B is a wheel, the axle of which is secured to brace a and carries the inner side of the frame. The coupling-arm B is attached to the cutter-bar s by the'joint r, and made rigid or flexible by the bolt 1.

When the machine is used for a reaper, the bar should be rigidly attached to the couplingarm to help sustain the platform. This is done by using the bolt 7'. But when used as a mower, in connection with the wheel B, the joint 1' should be flexible, which is effected by removing the bolt 1-.

In working a mowing-machine it is desirable to-have the cutter-bar so arranged that the driver can easily raise it over obstructions and over the cut grass when turning the corners of the field. This is accomplished by means of the lever Q in connection with the compound treadle q, operated by the drivers foot, who occupies the seat T, which is .attached to the tongue by the spring 25. The position of the driver in the back seat also balances the machine. The wheels B and B are connected by means of the shaft V. The wheel B is coupled to the shaft by apawl and ratchet, and the wheel B is coupled to the spur-gear wheel D by a pawl and ratchet. Through the hub of the wheel B and gearwheel D, as seen in Fig. 5, passes a hollow metallic sleeve.

o is the end of the hollow sleeve, as shown in Fig. 7 Plate 2, and is recessed and fits 011 the pin 12, passing through the shaft V. The hub of the gear-wheel D has a square recess, as seen in Fig. 6, which passes over the square end of the hollow sleeve, as seen in Fig. 7. When the wheel B turns forward, it turns the shaft V, and of course the gear-wheel D, and when the wheel B turns it also turns the gearwheel D and shaft V. These two wheels are made independent drivers by the pawls and ratehets.

W is the journal-box, which is left 011 the shaft V when detached from the machine to be used for a reaper. The bearing w on the shaft V fits into the boxz, as seen in Fig. 1.

Plate 1. The box NV is bolted to the curved brace a. \Vhen used as a mower, in order to increase the motion of the cutters, a smaller spur-pinion is used, as seen in Fig. 4, x.

U represents a casing inclosing in the bevel gear and pinion, and forming a box for the journal u of the main shaft 9 In using a harvester in the field it is necessary, in order to make it run easily, to keep the gearing lubricated, which causes dust and bits of grass to collect upon them, which makes the machinery, especially bevel-gear, wear out rapidly. This casing entirely protects the gearing from dust or grit.

Having thus fully described my improvements, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The construction of the frame consisting in the combination of the upright standard provided with thej ournal-boxes for support ing the gearing and driving wheel or wheels, the curved brace a a, and shield-board 2), connected and arranged in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. The use of the auxiliary arm for supporting the reel in three bearings, one of which extends over the platform, thereby supper-i;- ing in a substantial manner the reel, which has no support on the grain side of the 11mchine said reel being capable of adjustment upon a pivot, when constructed 'nnd arranged substmitinlly as desm-ibed.

I). The arrangement otthe nmin frame and metallic coupling-arm R, adjustable hinged connection of the fingerdmr, and auxiliary ezurviug-wheel B, in the manner and for the purposes described.

4. The combination of the axle V and auxiliary driving and carrying wheel 13' with the main driving wheel B, whereby additional traction is secured for operating the cutter when the machine is used for mowing, substantially as and for the purpose described.

R. BUTTON.

Vitnesses:

EDM. 'F. BROWN, J. B. \VOODRUFF. 

